Absolute best quality Japanese sword for "real world" use.

Brian6244 · Jan 1, 2005

A discussion with a friend that took place earlier today at a gun and knife show we attended has made me curious and this seems like the best place to get the answer to our question.

Who is currently making the absolute highest quality Japanese swords for real world use. When I say "real world" use I mean using it as it was originally intended to be used... i.e. sword fighting.

I'm just curious since we got to thinking as we were surrounded by low to medium quality swords, since sword fighting is pretty much a thing of the past throughout 99% of the world, who (if anyone) is still making Japanese swords of the level of quality (both in form and function) that (if transported back in time) would make even the most particular Emperor proud to use to equip himself and/or his finest warriors?

OodlesOfNoodles · Jan 1, 2005

Howard Clark L6 Banite katana. The clsest thing you can get to a lightsaber, and practically indestructible. Fully mounted: $6000-7000.

DaQo'tah Forge · Jan 1, 2005

from the book I just got, THE CRAFT OF THE JAPANESE SWORD....it tells me that there are many smiths in our modern age that can make swords with the best of them in the past.

They judged a sword in history by cutting tests,,,,ie, stacking up bodies and seeing how many people you could cut in two at one stroke...

Today some smiths make swords aimed at doing tatami mat cutting tests,,,as far as I know such tests are a very good way to test not only the sword, but the guy doing the cutting too...I forget the number of wet tatami mats equal what type of battle cut,,,something like 2 mats equal an arm,,,4 equal cutting a person above the arm and comming out at the oppsite hip..

knife saber · Jan 2, 2005

There's also the fact that a lot of modern swords are meant *especially* for mat cutting - wider blades to decrease the angle presented, and less niku for the same reason. The rise of recreational swordsmanship emphasized technique over survival, but it's not as though the ideal qualities for a true fighting sword are lost to us. In fact, with advances in metallurgy, and the application of the scientific method to smithing, there are a lot of folks out there today who can make swords far surpassing what yesterday's masters could achieve. With that said, I'll second Mr. Clark's L6 swords. I also love Wally Hayes' work. I would also love to get a true shinsakuto, but a superlative blade (with admittedly less historical / traditional value) can be had for much less, so that's a little further down my list.

Dale Baxter · Jan 18, 2005

I will also agree that Howard Clark makes a fantastic cutter in a wonderful package. Now Michael Bell studied with a Master in Japan for several years and has forging and tempering down to an art, but he is not the the kind to hide the beauty under fancy furniture and polish...more of a battle sword than a show sword. I have seen a Bell Katana cut a 4" oak limb at half swing.

Another Bladesmith to consider would be Don Fogg. Perhaps one of the most under rated swordsmiths of modern times. Most think of his work as investment quality, but I tell you his swords are cutters!!! Standing paper, bamboo, wood limbs, and just about everything else he can find will be cut before he starts polishing one.

I am sure that others qualify as well, but I only can talk about the swords I have seen being used.

Dale

bithabus · Jan 19, 2005

Howard Clark only sells bare blades, he dosen't do the polish or mounting.

Dale Baxter said:
I will also agree that Howard Clark makes a fantastic cutter in a wonderful package. Now Michael Bell studied with a Master in Japan for several years and has forging and tempering down to an art, but he is not the the kind to hide the beauty under fancy furniture and polish...more of a battle sword than a show sword. I have seen a Bell Katana cut a 4" oak limb at half swing.

Another Bladesmith to consider would be Don Fogg. Perhaps one of the most under rated swordsmiths of modern times. Most think of his work as investment quality, but I tell you his swords are cutters!!! Standing paper, bamboo, wood limbs, and just about everything else he can find will be cut before he starts polishing one.

I am sure that others qualify as well, but I only can talk about the swords I have seen being used.

Dale

Dale Baxter · Jan 19, 2005

bithabus said:
Howard Clark only sells bare blades, he dosen't do the polish or mounting.

Bit,
Perhaps my wording was a bit off? I said he makes a "fantastic cutter in a wonderful package" Fantastic cutter meaning-ease of use with good edge retention, wonderful package meaning-design. Please forgive my lack of complete explanation.....

UnknownVT · Jan 19, 2005

Dale Baxter said:
Bit,
Perhaps my wording was a bit off? I said he makes a "fantastic cutter in a wonderful package" Fantastic cutter meaning-ease of use with good edge retention, wonderful package meaning-design. Please forgive my lack of complete explanation.....

I don't think you need to apologize at all -
since Howard Clark blades does come as fully "furnished" katanas -
and would seem to be easily available -

please see -

The Custom Howard Clark L6 Katana at Bugei.com

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

Skaven · Jan 19, 2005

Howard Clark or Rick Barrett

Dale Baxter · Jan 19, 2005

Thank you for your support, but I think we are loosing the subject here.
We were talking about better swords, now who else makes a good functional sword that would honor the past?

bithabus · Jan 20, 2005

Bugei used to sell Howard Clark swords, but they sourced the blades from Mr. Clark and they hired Legacy Arts to do the mountings. The point is that you shouldn't judge a smith by the polish or mounting of his sword if he only does the bare blade. I've seen some Bell swords that are gorgeously mounted, and some HC that look plain. I think both smiths do fantastic blades, probably these are teh best two Japanese style smiths in NA.

UnknownVT said:
I don't think you need to apologize at all -
since Howard Clark blades does come as fully "furnished" katanas -
and would seem to be easily available -

please see -

The Custom Howard Clark L6 Katana at Bugei.com

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

UnknownVT · Jan 20, 2005

bithabus said:
Bugei used to sell Howard Clark swords, but they sourced the blades from Mr. Clark and they hired Legacy Arts to do the mountings. The point is that you shouldn't judge a smith by the polish or mounting of his sword if he only does the bare blade.

Point taken -

However, I understand that most Japanese sword smiths do NOT polish or furnish their blades either -
they normally go to separate polishers, saya makers etc. of the smith's choosing,
and I think traditionally it has been like that for centuries -
how can one judge the smith of any Japanese sword made this way?

It may be analogous to Howard Clark choosing to deal with Bugei as one of his outlets, and Legacy Arts as the finishers/furnishers.......

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

bithabus · Jan 20, 2005

how can one judge the smith of any Japanese sword made this way?

Well, I don't think anyone should. Some Western smiths do their own polish and fittings sometimes, such as Rick Barrett or Michael Bell, and then of course they are an indication of the blade smith's skills. I sort of like the Japanese way, we get so see the work and artistic view of several craftspeople.

UnknownVT · Jan 20, 2005

bithabus said:
I sort of like the Japanese way, we get so see the work and artistic view of several craftspeople.

In full agreement -
that way it is possible (as often actually the case) of getting outstanding craftsmanship/artistry on the completed sword -
since each person could excel in their specialized craft/art.

However in the end it is still the complete sword that is "judged" -
at best there might be some qualification - like good blade but the furnishings let it down -
and for more discerning connoisseurs or sword appraisers - the ability to recognize a good blade under not so good polishing........

So in the end a Howard Clark "sword" (blade) will be "judged" whether we like it or not - and whether it is fair or not -
but hopefully he will have at least had a say in the finishers and furnishers?

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net

bithabus · Jan 20, 2005

but hopefully he will have at least had a say in the finishers and furnishers?

You can buy a blade from Mr. Clark and have it polished and mounted by anyone you wish. I suppose a person might go cheap on this, but that would be a real shame. Swords like that are so special that it is the responsibility of the customer to have them polished and mounted by craftspeople as talented as the smith, IMO.

I agree with you, too, that with greater specialization comes greater skill and attention. An artist who only does habaki, for example, will end up making really, really nice habaki...